Burlington Animal Shelter & Control: Adoption Hours, Fees, Lost Pets & Contact Guide 2026
Searching for Burlington Animal Shelter in North Carolina? The public shelter most visitors need is Burlington Animal Services Pet Adoption and Resource Center. This guide covers adoption hours, lost pet steps, field services contacts, surrender appointments, foster options, visitor planning, and official city resources before you call or visit.
Burlington Animal Shelter Quick Details
These are the details most people need first: where the shelter is, when it is open, how to call, where to see adoptable pets, and how to reach the correct animal-control or field-service contact.
Address
Burlington Animal Services Pet Adoption and Resource Center is listed at 221 Stone Quarry Road, Burlington, NC 27217.
Shelter Phone
Call 336-578-0343 for shelter, adoption, lost pet, and pet resource questions.
Published Hours
Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Saturday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Adoptable Pets
Use the city’s Pet Adoption & Foster page before visiting.
What Burlington Animal Services Does
Burlington Animal Services is the city’s Pet Adoption and Resource Center for people who want to adopt a pet, look for a lost animal, ask about found pets, get pet support resources, volunteer, foster, or contact the right animal field-services agency. The shelter is more than a kennel; it also works as a local resource point for pet help, animal admissions, community support, and field-service coordination.
A smart visit starts online. Pets may move into foster care, adoption specials may change, admissions may require appointments, and field-service contacts vary by city or county. This guide puts official links inside the steps so visitors can act quickly instead of relying on outdated third-party listings.
Adoptions and Foster
Search available dogs, cats, other pets, pets in the community, foster-to-adopt opportunities, and adoption steps through official city pages.
Lost and Found Pets
Burlington Animal Services takes in thousands of lost pets each year and checks pets for microchips or other identification.
Field Services
Field-service help may include stray pets, loose animals, cruelty or neglect concerns, code violations, wildlife, rabies exposure, and other local animal issues.
How to Adopt from Burlington Animal Shelter
Adoption should feel exciting, but it should also be practical. A good match depends on your schedule, housing rules, other pets, children, activity level, budget, and ability to give the animal a calm first week.
Start with the official pet page
Open Burlington’s Pet Adoption & Foster page. It connects visitors to dogs, cats, other pets, pets in the community, adoption information, foster details, and adoption listings.
Check availability before driving
If you are interested in a specific pet, save the animal’s name, ID, screenshot, or listing link. Call 336-578-0343 if you are traveling from outside Burlington and want to confirm whether the pet is still available.
Visit during shelter hours
Published hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Arrive early enough to meet pets, ask staff questions, and complete next steps without rushing.
Ask real-life fit questions
Ask about age estimate, behavior notes, health information, spay/neuter status, vaccine records, microchip options, energy level, comfort with other pets, children, and whether the animal has been in foster care.
Plan the first week at home
Prepare a quiet decompression space, schedule a veterinary checkup, update identification, avoid overwhelming introductions, and give the animal time to settle into your routine.
Burlington Animal Shelter Adoption Fees and Cost Notes
Burlington Animal Services directs adopters to the current city fee schedule and may run special adoption promotions. Because adoption costs can change, confirm the current fee for the specific pet before visiting or completing paperwork.
| Cost Topic | What Visitors Should Know | Best Action |
|---|---|---|
| Standard adoption fee | Adoption fees should be confirmed through the current City of Burlington fee schedule or shelter staff. | Ask before visiting if budget is a major factor. |
| Special adoption events | Burlington may run adoption specials that temporarily reduce fees or change promotion pricing. | Check the official adoption page and shelter announcements. |
| Medical and care inclusions | Adoption paperwork and pet records should be reviewed so you understand vaccines, testing, surgery, microchip, or follow-up needs. | Ask staff what is already done and what your vet should handle next. |
| Elective services | Some services, such as microchipping or additional testing, may be handled separately depending on the pet and current policy. | Ask what is included before finalizing adoption. |
| Long-term ownership costs | Food, vet care, prevention, supplies, licensing where required, training, and emergency care can cost more than the adoption fee. | Budget for the first 30 days and the first full year. |
Lost Pets, Found Pets and Burlington Shelter Search Steps
If your pet is missing, speed matters. Burlington Animal Services says lost or stray pets may be rehomed after 72 hours unless the owner is identified, and pets received are checked for a microchip or other identification. Do not wait several days before checking official shelter resources.
If Your Pet Is Missing
- Start with Burlington’s Lost & Found Pets page.
- Call 336-578-0343 if you believe your pet may be at the shelter.
- Search broadly by color, size, sex, breed mix, age, and found location.
- Bring photos, vet records, microchip details, license details, and proof of address.
- Check daily because intake and shelter status can change quickly.
If You Found an Animal
- Check whether the pet may belong to a nearby household.
- Have the animal scanned for a microchip if safe and practical.
- Notify Burlington Animal Services within the proper local process.
- Use the city’s lost/found guidance if you can temporarily hold the pet safely.
- Do not handle an aggressive, injured, or frightened animal yourself.
Burlington Animal Control and Animal Field Services
Animal-control questions may need a different contact than adoption questions. Burlington’s animal field-services page lists separate non-emergency contacts by local agency, including Burlington, Elon, Gibsonville, Graham, Haw River, Alamance County, Guilford County, Orange County, Randolph County, and Caswell County.
Burlington Non-Emergency
For Burlington non-emergency animal field-service issues, the city lists 336-229-3500 or animalcontrol@burlingtonnc.gov.
Check Jurisdiction
If the animal was found outside Burlington, use the correct town, city, or county contact listed on the official field-services page.
Life-Threatening Emergency
For an immediate life-threatening situation after hours, Burlington’s pet admission guidance says to call 911.
Pet Surrender, Rehome Help and Admission Appointments
Burlington Animal Services says appointments are required for non-emergency pet admissions, including owner surrenders. If you have exhausted rehoming resources or have been temporarily keeping a lost pet and still need assistance, the city directs people to schedule a pet admission appointment.
Start with official rehoming guidance
Visit Burlington’s Admissions & Rehoming a Pet page before assuming shelter intake is the only option.
Use admission appointments for non-emergency intake
For non-emergency pet admissions, including owner surrenders, use the official BAS Pet Admission Appointments page.
Contact pet support if urgent
If you have a true emergency or urgent pet situation and need to speak with staff, the city lists petsupport@burlingtonnc.gov. For immediate life-threatening after-hours emergencies, call 911.
Ask about alternatives before surrender
Food support, veterinary care resources, training help, temporary fostering, family placement, and rehoming tools may keep a pet safely out of the shelter when a realistic support path exists.
Pet Help, Foster, Volunteer and Community Support
Burlington Animal Services is not only an adoption building. The city also highlights pet help resources, foster opportunities, volunteer options, and community support. These programs can help pets stay with families, reduce shelter crowding, and give animals a better chance at placement.
Pet Help Resources
Use Burlington’s low-cost spay/neuter and veterinary care resources when cost is a barrier.
Foster Options
Fostering can help animals decompress, free kennel space, and give adopters better information about behavior in a home setting.
Volunteer Help
Burlington welcomes volunteers who meet the city’s age and orientation requirements. Check the official volunteer page before applying.
What to Bring When Visiting Burlington Animal Shelter
Whether you are adopting, reclaiming a lost pet, asking about a found animal, or dealing with a field-service concern, the right documents can prevent delays.
For Adoption
- Government-issued photo ID.
- Payment method in case fees or services apply.
- Rental, landlord, or HOA pet approval if relevant.
- Safe ride-home setup, leash, collar, carrier, or crate.
- Questions about medical, behavior, and home-fit notes.
For Lost Pet Reclaim
- Recent photos of your pet.
- Microchip number or registration record.
- Veterinary records or vaccination paperwork.
- License, rabies, or tag information if available.
- Proof of address and identity.
For Field-Service Questions
- Exact location of the animal concern.
- Photos or video only if safely taken.
- Description of the animal and behavior.
- Whether the issue involves a bite, injury, loose animal, cruelty, nuisance, or urgent safety concern.
- Your contact details for follow-up.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using outdated third-party listings
Use official City of Burlington pages for current address, hours, phone, pet listings, and field-service contacts.
Arriving too close to closing
Adoption questions, meet-and-greets, and paperwork take time. Arrive earlier when possible.
Forgetting proof documents
Bring ID and ownership proof, especially for lost-pet reclaim or admission-related questions.
Calling the wrong agency
Animal field services depend on location. Burlington, Graham, Elon, Haw River, and county areas may use different contacts.
Choosing a pet too quickly
Adoption should be based on lifestyle, schedule, housing rules, budget, other pets, and long-term care ability.
Assuming surrender is walk-in
Non-emergency pet admissions, including owner surrenders, require appointments through official Burlington guidance.
Burlington Animal Shelter Map and Directions
Use the map below for directions to Burlington Animal Services Pet Adoption and Resource Center at 221 Stone Quarry Road, Burlington, NC 27217. If your visit is tied to a specific pet, lost-pet reclaim, admission appointment, or urgent animal concern, call first.
Official Burlington Animal Shelter Resources
Use these official resources for the most current information. Pet availability, hours, admission appointments, field-service contacts, and adoption specials can change.
Nearby Shelter Guides and Internal Resources
If you are comparing public shelters in North Carolina, you may also find our Raleigh Animal Shelter guide useful for a larger-city shelter comparison. For a broader county-style shelter example, review the Cobb Animal Shelter GA guide to see how adoption, lost-pet, and animal-control services can differ by location.
Burlington Animal Shelter FAQ
What is the official name of Burlington Animal Shelter?
The official city shelter is Burlington Animal Services Pet Adoption and Resource Center.
What is the address for Burlington Animal Shelter?
Burlington Animal Services Pet Adoption and Resource Center is located at 221 Stone Quarry Road, Burlington, NC 27217.
What is the phone number for Burlington Animal Services?
The shelter phone number is 336-578-0343.
What are Burlington Animal Shelter hours?
The City of Burlington lists shelter hours as Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Where can I see adoptable pets from Burlington Animal Shelter?
Use the City of Burlington Pet Adoption & Foster page to view available pet categories and official adoption resources.
What should I do if I lost a pet in Burlington, NC?
Check the official Lost & Found Pets page, call Burlington Animal Services at 336-578-0343, search daily, and bring proof of ownership such as photos, microchip records, vet records, and identification.
How long before a lost or stray pet may be rehomed?
Burlington Animal Services says lost or stray pets may be rehomed after 72 hours unless the owner is identified. Owners should act quickly and check official shelter resources immediately.
Who do I call for Burlington animal control or field services?
For Burlington non-emergency animal field-service issues, the city lists 336-229-3500 or animalcontrol@burlingtonnc.gov. For immediate life-threatening emergencies after hours, call 911.
Do owner surrenders require appointments?
Yes. Burlington Animal Services says appointments are required for non-emergency pet admissions, including owner surrenders.
What should I bring when visiting Burlington Animal Shelter?
Bring photo ID, payment method if fees apply, pet listing details, proof documents for lost-pet reclaim, and a safe transport setup such as a leash, collar, carrier, or crate.
Final Takeaway
Burlington Animal Shelter is best understood as Burlington Animal Services Pet Adoption and Resource Center in Burlington, North Carolina. The smartest plan is to check official pet listings first, confirm hours, bring proper documents, use the correct field-service contact for animal-control issues, and call 336-578-0343 when you need shelter-specific guidance.
Before visiting, confirm pet availability, adoption fees, lost-pet status, admission appointment requirements, and field-service instructions directly with the City of Burlington. That small step can prevent a wasted trip and helps you make the right decision for your household and the animal.
Animal Shelter Action Planner: Lost Pet, Found Pet, Adoption, Reclaim & Surrender Helper
Use this free tool to create a practical next-step plan before visiting or contacting an animal shelter, humane society, rescue, or animal control agency. It does not search a live shelter database, but it helps you prepare the right documents, questions, safety steps, and official-source searches.
Build a USA-wide shelter action plan
Select your situation and location. The tool will create a general action plan, search links, call questions, and a copyable checklist.
Lost pet recovery checklist
Check the steps you have completed. This helps you stay organized during the first urgent hours and days.
Found pet safety decision helper
Use this when you find a stray or loose pet and need a safe next step.
Adoption readiness checker
This helps adopters prepare before visiting a shelter or rescue. It is not a guarantee of approval.
Pet reclaim document checklist
If your pet may be at a shelter, prepare proof before visiting. Exact requirements and fees vary by agency.
Owner surrender preparation helper
Surrender rules vary. Many shelters require appointments, proof of residence, behavior/medical information, and may offer alternatives.
Animal control contact decision helper
Choose the situation and get a general USA-wide contact path. Local rules may differ.
Adoption and first-month budget planner
This is a planning guide, not a shelter fee database. Always confirm adoption fees and included services with the shelter.
Your generated shelter plan
Your action plan, search links, call script, checklist, or budget guide will appear here.
Start with the Planner tab
Select your state, city/county/ZIP, pet type, and goal. The tool will create a practical USA-wide shelter action plan.
Privacy note: this tool runs in your browser. It does not send your entries to animal-shelter.org.